VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letter)

Postpartum psychosis

Chicago — This is regarding "Psychosis hits 1 in 1,000 new moms, study says; Universal screening urged after childbirth" (Page 1, Dec. 6). The story reminds us of the well-known cases involving women who, while suffering from postpartum psychosis, injured or even killed their children, and the controversy over whether we should convict and punish or acquit and treat these women.

People on both sides of this difficult debate can perhaps agree that it would be better for everyone if we could identify and treat such women before they have harmed their children. We could save innocent lives and the substantial cost of prosecuting or involuntarily committing the mothers.

Of course, violence caused by people with mental illness is rare. But, as the study you report states, most of the harm to mothers and children from failing to treat postpartum psychosis occurs without such extreme events.